ISSN (Online) 2581-9429

IJARSCT
International Journal of Advanced Research in Science, Communication and Technology (IJARSCT)

Volume 7, Issue 4, July 2020

Impact Factor: 4.819

Global Positioning Based Tracking System of

Vehicle
Manisha Bhatnagar
Assistant Professor, Department of Computer Science
ISBA Institute of Professional Studies, Indore, M.P., India
manishaprasanna@gmail.com

Abstract: The research is about creating a system for tracking vehicle. Objective of the research is to
design and develop a GPS based Vehicle Tracking System in order to display location of vehicle on
Google Maps. This system used Arduino MEGA as a microcontroller and it will be used as the main
processing unit. Next, Ublox NEO-6m GPS module is used to routing the coordinate while SIM 900A
GSM module is used to connecting with the user. The product was successfully run at outdoor and
having some problem at indoor due to GPS module cannot extract the accurate coordinate when there is
a roof or obstructer that block the direct signal connection between the GPS and satellite. For the next
improvement, the researcher can use the high quality of GPS module to connect with satellite. An
example, GPS NEO-6P module where it can collect data more accurate and stay connect to the satellite.

Keywords: GSM (Global Services for Mobile Communication), GPS (Global Positioning System),
Tracking System of Vehicle.

I. INTRODUCTION
Nowadays, crime rates in Malaysia are increasing rapidly, such as stolen vehicles cases. Various devices have been
invented to reduce the crime rate. This is because criminals are also become crafty and they using various ways to
commit crimes. Now the demand for the vehicle’s detection devices increases from time to time, it is increasing in line
with the growing number of vehicles in Malaysia. Lot of tracking devices have been installed in vehicles, either by the
car manufacturer or by third party developer. Today's electronic technology is growing fast, making users more tend to
using tools that can be controlled directly through their phones or computer. Development of GPS based vehicle
tracking system is an electronic device project that allows owners of vehicles to know the exact location of the vehicles
[1]. This project can be positioned the location of vehicle and show it on Google Maps. In general, this system will send
the coordinates and Google Maps link to mobile phone user using message. For the record, the theft case of vehicles in
the first half of 2015 are as follows, 4,539 private vehicles, 7,122 motorcycles and 751 commercial vehicles were
reported missing by the Vehicle Theft Reduction Council of Malaysia (VTREC). This due to the components in the car
get high demand dark market. Usually the percentage of getting back the lost vehicle is very low. In order to solve this
problem many GPS detectors have been build to reduce the rate of theft case. Namely, the GPS locator is usually
showing current location and do not update the vehicle location after that. Besides that, GPS detectors only show the
coordinates of longitude and latitude, so the user will waste their time to search place based on longitude and latitude
that show exactly their vehicle location [2].

II. METHODOLOGY
2.1 Overview of Purpose System
Based on block diagram from Figure 1, Arduino MEGA is used to control the whole process between GPS module and
GSM module. GPS module is used to get the coordinates of the vehicle while GSM module is used for sending
coordinates to user by message. In order to track the vehicle location, first it needs to find the coordinates of vehicle.
GPS module will connect with satellite continuously to get the coordinates.

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 ISSN (Online) 2581-9429
IJARSCT
International Journal of Advanced Research in Science, Communication and Technology (IJARSCT)

Volume 7, Issue 4, July 2020

Impact Factor: 4.819
Then GPS will send the coordinates to Arduino UNO. Arduino MEGA will extract the required data that received by
GPS. When GSM module receive command from user by massage, GSM module will cooperate with Arduino MEGA
to reply the message and send it to user by using GSM module. The message contains the coordinates of vehicle
location.

Fig. 1. Block Diagram of GPS Based Vehicle Tracking System.

Figure 2 shows the flowchart of GPS Based Vehicle Tracking System. First, GPS will be connecting continuously with
satellite to routing the coordinate. Once the LED at GPS module was blinking, it means the location was locked. Then,
check the LED at GSM Module. It will blinking after get the mobile communication line. After all LED was blinking,
user can sent ―START‖ to GSM module via massage. GSM will reply the message. The message will contain location
of vehicle detail and URL link to Google Maps. The location will be updated every one minute. In order to terminate the
system, user just need to sent ―STOP‖ to GSM. Then, the system will stop sending message to user’s phone.

Fig. 2. Flowchart of GPS Based Vehicle Tracking System.

2.2 Software Development

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 ISSN (Online) 2581-9429
IJARSCT
International Journal of Advanced Research in Science, Communication and Technology (IJARSCT)

Volume 7, Issue 4, July 2020

Impact Factor: 4.819
Figure 3 shows the software that used to develop the program, namely IDE software. The software is an open-source
Arduino Software, the code will be written on this software and it will be upload to Arduino board.
Arduino Mega 2560 is a microcontroller board based on the ATmega2560. As shown in Figure 4, it has 54 digital
input/output pins (of which 15 can be used as PWM outputs), 16 analog inputs, 4 UARTs (hardware serial ports), a 16
MHz crystal oscillator, a USB connection, a power jack, an ICSP header, and a reset button. It contains everything
needed to support the microcontroller and simply connect it to a computer with a USB cable or power it with an AC-to-
DC adapter or battery to get started [3].

2.3 Hardware Development

Fig. 4. Arduino Mega 2560.

Figure 5 shows SIM900A Module which is built with Dual Band GSM/GPRS based SIM900A module from SIMCOM.
It works on frequencies 900/ 1800 MHz. SIM900A can search these two bands automatically. AT Commands can also
set the frequency bands. The baud rate is configurable from 1200- 115200 through AT command. The GSM/GPRS
module has internal TCP/IP stack to enable connection with internet via
GPRS. SIM900A is an ultra-compact and reliable wireless module [5].

Fig. 5. SIM900A GSM Module.

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 ISSN (Online) 2581-9429
IJARSCT
International Journal of Advanced Research in Science, Communication and Technology (IJARSCT)

Volume 7, Issue 4, July 2020

Impact Factor: 4.819
NEO-6 module is a series of family stand-alone GPS receivers featuring the high-performance UBLOX 6 positioning
engines. These flexible and cost-effective receivers offer numerous connectivity options in a miniature 16 x 12.2 x 2.4
mm package. Their compact architecture and power and memory options make NEO-6 modules ideal for battery
operated mobile devices with very strict cost and space constraints [4]. As can see on Figure 6, this module has an
external antenna and built-in EEPROM.

Fig. 6. NEO-6 GPS Module.

Figure 7 shows LM2596 series of regulators are monolithic integrated circuits that provide all the active functions for a
step-down (buck) switching regulator, capable of driving a 3-A load with excellent line and load regulation. These
devices are available in fixed output voltages of 3.3 V, 5 V, 12 V, and an adjustable output version.

Fig. 7. LM2596 DC-DC Buck Converter Step-Down Power Module.

2.4 Circuit
The Figure 8 shows the schematic diagram for GPS based Vehicle Tracking System. The PWM pin number 10 and 11 of
Arduino will connect to RX and TX of GPS module.

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 ISSN (Online) 2581-9429
IJARSCT
International Journal of Advanced Research in Science, Communication and Technology (IJARSCT)

Volume 7, Issue 4, July 2020

Impact Factor: 4.819

Fig. 8. Circuit of GPS Based Vehicle Tracking System.

While GPS module Vcc and GND will connect to 5V and GND pins of Arduino. GSM module Vcc and GND pins are
connected to Step-Down Power Module before connect to Vin and GND of Arduino to avoid overflow. Tx and Rx pins
of GSM are directly connected TX514 and RX315 of Arduino. Software Serial Library is also used for all RX and TX
to allow serial communication.

III. RESULTS
3.1 Prototype
A GPS Based Vehicle Tracking System prototype has been developed for the project. Figure 9 shows the general view
of the project prototype, while Figure 10 shows the picture of component in the system

Fig. 9. General View of GPS Based Vehicle Tracking System.

Asdasd
The component in a blue box is DC-DC Stepdown, the yellow box is GSM Module while the green box is GPS Module
and the red box is an Arduino Mega.

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 ISSN (Online) 2581-9429
IJARSCT
International Journal of Advanced Research in Science, Communication and Technology (IJARSCT)

Volume 7, Issue 4, July 2020

Impact Factor: 4.819

Fig. 10. Component of GPS Based Vehicle Tracking System.

Figure 11 shows the view of the project while been test. Firstly, the program will be upload to Arduino MEGA. Then
wait for the GPS for routing the coordinate and GSM for connecting a phone line. After get the coordinate, GPS will
blink every 3-4 second. Same with GSM, after get the line, it will blink 3-4 second. In the figure, the LED for GPS and
GSM indicators were blinking, which mean the coordinate was already locked. Then it ready to send an information if it
received a command from user.

3.2 System Development

Fig. 11. Project Being Test.

The vehicle tracking system was test at outdoor and indoor. The result was depending at the surrounding location.
Figure 11 shows the general view of the project. First the program will be upload to Arduino. Then wait for the GPS for
routing the coordinate and GSM for getting a phone line. After get the coordinate, GPS will blink every 3-4 second.
Same with GSM, after get the line, it will blink 3-4 second. In the Figure 11 the LED at GPS and GSM were blinking,
which mean the coordinate was already lock and it was ready to send an information if receive a command from user.
The data of coordinate also can be check at serial monitor at IDE program. It will show the longitude, latitude and time
taken. The user phone number will be exposed on the serial monitor. This program had been setup with own term to
cooperate between user and the vehicle tracking system. In this program two term was used which is ―START‖ and
Copyright to IJARSCT DOI: 10.48175/IJARSCT-473 213
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 ISSN (Online) 2581-9429
IJARSCT
International Journal of Advanced Research in Science, Communication and Technology (IJARSCT)

Volume 7, Issue 4, July 2020

Impact Factor: 4.819
―STOP‖. The ―START‖ term is using to active the system, meanwhile term ―STOP‖ for terminate the system. Figure
12 shows serial monitor when receive ―START‖ command from user via massage from the user. After receive
―STOP‖ command, the system will terminate the connection with user but still routing the latest coordinate. Once the
user sent ―START‖ to GSM module. GSM module will cooperate with Arduino and Arduino will extract data that
received by GPS module. The system will reply the massage to user.

Fig. 12. Serial monitor receive “START” command.

The reply massage will contain coordinate and URL link to Google Maps. Figure 13 shows an example of message
when the system was run. Once the system was start, it will constantly updated the current location every one minute.
Figure 14 shows when the link was open, the coordinate will be marked with red pin. To terminate the system, user have
to sent ―STOP‖ to the GSM module and it will terminate immediately. To use the system again, user just need to send
―START‖ again

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International Journal of Advanced Research in Science, Communication and Technology (IJARSCT)

Volume 7, Issue 4, July 2020

Impact Factor: 4.819
3.3 Accuracy
Accuracy play the major role in the tracking system. Figure 14 shows how the accuracy of the prototype are taken. The
red pin is the dropped pin with the longitude and latitude that get track by GPS Module. While the blue dot shows the
real place that the device was located. In this test the coordinate taken are at 30m from the real coordinate. The distance
was measured automatically using the application. If the distance between the real coordinate and the track coordinate
decrease, so the accuracy will be increase. The accuracy of this prototype was depending on the place, indoors or
outdoors. Table 1 shows the reading of accuracy test.

IV. DISCUSSIONS
To develop this project ―GPS based Vehicle Tracking System‖, it is divided by two sections which are software and
hardware development. For the software development, it has a lot of researches were done, the programming by using
the Arduino compiler is the most complicated part of this project. There were a lot of problem facing. Error dialog
message pop up every time the program is run. However, all of the problems are solved after the errors have been
found. This project was being test at indoor and outdoor. The project was run successfully at outdoor and having some
problem at indoor due to GPS module cannot extract the accurate coordinate when there is a roof or obstructer that
block the direct signal connection between the GPS and satellite. Also, the reading of coordinate was not exactly at the
real place of the devices. The given coordinate was different about 5m to 30m from the real coordinate. Another factor
is come from GPS not get strong signal from satellite. This project needs two power sources. For GSM module needs a
9V direct current with 2A from AC to DC adapter while Arduino Mega and GPS module share a power source from
USB. The project was tested by using a 9V battery but the power receive at GSM module was not stable. This is
because Arduino Mega need 7V to 12V to work, while GSM Module need 5V to start up. The GSM module still cannot
work properly when use the battery even use a same voltage with adapter. In order to applied this system in a vehicle.
The vehicle needs an external power source that can manage the system.

V. CONCLUSION
The purpose of this study is to develop a system that can track the location of vehicle when the car had been stolen or
loss. Otherwise, this project also perhaps to reduce the number of stolen vehicles in our country. The idea is when the
vehicle was stolen, the owner will send a massage to GSM module and the massage will be reply by GSM module. The
reply massage will contain coordinate and URL link to Google Maps. Once the system was start, it will constantly
updated the current location every one minute. When the user clicks on the URL link, the link will bring to Google
Map. There, the user can see the location of vehicle with a marker. Using the satellite view at the map, the real location
of vehicle can be seen. User can see the road on the map, the time for searching the stolen car can be reduced.
Therefore, by using the method user can get the location of the vehicle and real-time vehicle location details. The
system can be improved in several ways. First, use the high quality of GPS module to connect with satellite. An
example, GPS NEO-6P module where it can collect data more accurate and stay connect to the satellite. Next, the
system need to be balanced with the latest technology and the project can be improved by sending data to a server using
IOT (Internet of Things). At the end, the location can be known by accessing the website through internet.
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 ISSN (Online) 2581-9429
IJARSCT
International Journal of Advanced Research in Science, Communication and Technology (IJARSCT)

Volume 7, Issue 4, July 2020

Impact Factor: 4.819
TABLE 1: THE READING OF ACCURACY TEST
OUTDOOR INDOOR
Test 1 7m 30m
Test 2 10m 25m
Test 3 7m 27m

ACKNOWLEDGMENT
This work was supported by Faculty of Engineering Technology, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM).

REFERENCES
[1] Sathe Pooja,‖Vehicle Tracking System Using GPS‖, International Journal of Science and Research (IJSR),
India Online ISSN: 2319-7064, 2013.
[2] Abha Damani, Hardik Shah, Krishna Shah, Manish Vala, Department of Computer Science and Technology,
Uka Tarsadia University,Bardoli, Gujarat ― Global Positioning System for Object Tracking‖ International
Journal of Computer Applications (0975 – 8887) Volume 109 – No. 8, January 2015.
[3] Pankaj Verma, J.S Bhatia, Centre for Development of Advanced Computing, Mohali, Punjab, India ―Design
and Development of GPS-GSM Based Tracking System with Google Map Based Monitoring‖ International
Journal of Computer Science, Engineering and Applications (IJCSEA) Vol.3, No.3, June 2013
[4] A. EI-Rabbany, Introduction to GPS: The Global Positioning System, Norwood, MA: Artech House, 2006.
[5] Pham Hoang Oat, Micheal Drieberg and Nguyen Chi Cuong, ―Development of Vehicle Tracking System
using GPS and GSM Modem‖ Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department, Universiti Teknologi
PETRONAS, Malaysia. 2013 IEEE Conference on Open Systems (ICOS), December 2 - 4, 2013, Sarawak,

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